Miniature ball game

ABSTRACT

A game having a playing surface with opposite goals into which a ball is to be driven by opposed players or teams is surrounded by a barrier above the level of the playing surface which confines the playing ball to the surface. A transparent cover may be used above the barrier. Each side is provided with turrets which shoot marbles or the like along the playing surface to drive the playing ball into a goal. The marbles pass under the barrier and are returned to the turrets for re-use. A number of forms of turret are disclosed, each being rotatable and capable of automatic re-supply of marbles from the return channels.

United States Patent Juneau [151 3,656,753 1 Apr. 18,1972

[541 MINIATURE BALL GAME [72] Inventor: Raymond L. Juneau, 3307 W. WellsStreet, Milwaukee, Wis. 53208 22 Filed: Mar.5, 1970 211 App1.No.: 16,639

....273/119 R, 119 A, 122 R, 122 A, 273/125 R,101,'101.1,101.2,129

1,684,577 9/1923 Deacon ..273/119R 1,919,094 7/1933 Cuchran ..273/129UXPrimary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-Amold W. KramerAttorney-Wheeler, House & Wheeler [57] ABSTRACT A game having a playingsurface with opposite goals into which a ball is to be driven by opposedplayers or teams is surrounded by a barrier above the level of theplaying surface which confines the playing ball to the surface. Atransparent cover may be used above the barrier. Each side is provided 5R f r n Cited with turrets which shoot marbles or the like along theplaying surface to drive the playing ball into a goal. The marbles passUNITED STATES PATENTS under the barrier and are returned to the turretsfor re-use. A number of forms of turret are disclosed, each beingrotatable 1,527,876 2/1925 Jamk ..273/119 R X l I f h 1,523,732 1/1925Tratsch et al. ..273/122 R e m re supply fmarb es mm t 6 621,440 3/1899Bailey et a1. ..273/101 820,367 5/1906 Roberts ..273/119 R 8 Claims, 9Drawing Figures l v 3e if k /z aa i i i 76 r 62 I l T k, 20 65 11/1/1//7777777T7;7777

PATENTEUAPR 18 1972 3, 656,753

SHEET 2 OF 3 \NVE NTO a Zn vMo/va L JUNEHU ATTO RNEYS MINIATURE BALLGAME SUMMARY OF THEINVENTION In its broadest form my invention comprisesa ball game in which a larger object ball, which is confined to aplaying surface by a barrier, is driven into a goal by impact withsmaller projectile balls which are not confined by the barrier, theprojectiles being ejected from a turret. More specifically, it comprisesa level table enclosed by a raised rail which permits marble projectilesto pass beneath it to restraining means which may comprise returnpassages leading to turrets, so that the turrets are constantly suppliedwith marbles. The turrets are set in the sides or comers of the playingsurface and are aimed by the players so that the ejected marbles strikea single ball confined by the barrier, with the object of causing it toenter an opposing teams goal. In the preferred form the field isrectangular with a goal at each end and two turrets at each end. Theturrets may be in the comers, where they need not turn as far to coverthe entire table. One or two players are on each team.

The invention also comprises the provision of a suitable turret whichmay rotate to shoot a projectile in any direction along the playingsurface from an edge or corner of the surface. The turret is preferablyseIf-reloading, in that the cocking of a hammer also adds a projectileto the magazine in the turret if one is available in the return channel.However a simpler turret may be provided in which the player reloadsmanually, if desired.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top view of the game of myinvention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a lateral cross sectional view on line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross sectional view through one form of turretwhich may be used in my invention.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the same turret while it isbeing cocked.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view on line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross sectional view through a modified form of theturret.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the turret of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of a further modified form of turretwith portions broken away to a vertical cross sectional view.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT( S) The device of my inventionconsists of a playing surface 10 which is provided with opposing goals12 into which a playing or object ball 14 may be driven. The playingfield 10 is surrounded by a barrier 16 which is placed at such a heightas to confine playing ball 14 to the playing surface 10 at all times. Acover 22 may also be provided, plastic transparent material beingpreferred. Barrier 16 is high enough so that projectile balls 18 maypass beneath it, as is most clearly seen in FIG. 2. Thus when aprojectile ball 18 is fired by one of the players it is not confined tothe playing surface but immediately after striking the playing ball 14it passes beneath a barrier 16. The projectile is restrained fromleaving the game side walls 87 and return channels 20 which preferablyeach lead to one of the turrets 30. If desired, transparent cover 22 maybe provided at a level far enough above the playing surface to avoidinterference. Such a cover will confine the balls to the playing surfaceif they rebound upwardly. This may happen when one or more projectileballs 18 strike the playing ball 14.

The turrets 30, preferably two at each end of the board, may be locatedin the ends, corners, or sides of the playing surface 10. They arerotatable so that a projectile ball 18, such as a marble, may be firedin any direction along the playing surface. As best shown in FIGS. 4through 6, each turret 30 is provided with a straight aiming channel 32whose bottom is level with playing surface 10 along which the marble ispropelled. Channel 32 is on a circular rotatable platform 34 and aspring-propelled hammer 36 is supported on a pair of parallel guide rods38 by means of journals 40 so that the stored energy in spring 42 movesthe hammer in the line of channel 32 to strike projectile ball 18 andpropel it onto playing surface 10. Hammer 36 is provided with a cockinglug 44. In the cocked position, the hammer lug 44 is held by detent 46of bell crank 48. A trigger 50 in hand grip 52 is pivoted at 54 and hasa lost motion connection with bell crank 48 through slot 56 in thetrigger and pin 58 on the bell crank. The trigger and bell crank arebiased toward the cocked position by spring 60 which is attached totrigger 50 near slot 56 and is attached at its other end to hand grip52.

Hand grip 52 is rigidly attached to rotatable table 34 and provides ameans of rotating the table to aim channel 32 in any direction along theplaying surface 10.

Table 34 is supported on a central axial column 62 which is providedwith a central magazine bore 64 in which projectile balls 18 may bestored and propelled upwardly one at a time to lie in channel 32.Channel 32 (and similar channels in the other embodiments) is inclinedupwardly from handle '52 toward playing surface 10 so that a ball lyingin channel 32 will remain at rest against a pair of stops 66, best shownin FIG. 6, preferably provided by a narrowing of channel 32 near thecenter of table 34. As best shown in FIG. 5, hammer 36 is near the rearmargin of table 34 in its cocked position and is well back of projectileball 18.

Column 62 is vertically reciprocatable within a lower column 68.Cylindrical column 68 is held against rotation with respect to column 62by a pin 70 which is secured to the lower end of column 62 andreciprocates within a vertical slot 72 in lower column 68. Lower column68 is provided with a radial shoulder 74 and upper column 62 is providedwith an opposed radial shoulder 76 to limit the upward movement ofcolumn 62 within the column 68 and to assist in aligning column 62 in aprecisely vertical position in its uppermost position for accuratealignment of channel 32 with playing surface 10. A spring 78 is providedbetween the upper end of column 68 and the lower surface of table 34 tobias the table to its uppermost position. Lower column 68 is providedwith a radial flange 80 which is received within a channel 82 in base84, which secures the turret to the floor 86 of the container for theentire game. Channel 82 is circular and permits rotation of the entireturret by means of hand grip 52.

Return channels 20 have their lowest points 20 beneath turrets 30 sothat a projectile ball 18 will come to rest directly beneath uppercentral column 62. At the bottom of column 62 a resilient collar 88encircles the opening to the magazine and projects slightly into themagazine. The inner diameter of the doughnut-shaped collar 88 isslightly less than the outer diameter of the projectile ball 18 (whichmay be a marble) but is compressible to permit ball 18 to be forcedthrough the collar 88 as column 62 is driven downwardly by means ofhandle 52. The resilience of collar 88 is sufficient so that ball 18 isretained above the collar as column 62 returns to its uppermost positionunder the urging of spring 78 along with any other projectile balls 18which have been retained above collar 88 in previous actuations. Thedistance between collar 88 and the bottom of channel 32 is justsufficient so that the uppermost ball 18 is wholly within channel 32 andis free of central column 62. The ball 18 is thus free to be drivenalong channel 32 when struck by hammer 36, and each downward actuationof handle 52 will provide a new ball ready to be fired as long as thereare projectile balls at the low point 20' of return channel 20.

Lower column 68 is also provided with a fixed vertical blade 90 having aramp surface 92 forming its upper margin. The ramp surface 92 engages apin 94 on journal 40, as best shown in FIG. 6. As shown in FIGS. 4 and5, when handle 52 is pushed downwardly to add a ball 18 to magazine 64,ramp surface 92 drives pin 94 rearwardly and carries hammer 36 back toits cocked position in which lug 44 is held behind detent 46 and spring42 is stretched. Thus a single downward motion SUfi ICCS to bring a newmarble 18 into firing position, reload magazine 64 with sufficientmarbles to hold the ball to be fired at the correct elevation, and cockshammer 36 ready for firing by pulling trigger 50.

A modified form of turret is shown at FIGS. 7 and 8. In this fonn of thedevice table 340 remains at the same elevation at all times and,accordingly, central column 620 is thus fastened to the base of the unit86 by a pair of radial flanges 800 and 800 respectively above and belowbase 86. The balls 18 are held'in magazine bore 640 by a different formof retainer comprising a pin 100 which extends through the wall ofcolumn 620 and is biased toward its inward position by the leaf spring102'so that it may retract as ball 18 is pressed upwardly past it, andthen returns to a position beneath the ball to support it and otherswhich are above it.

The balls 18 enter column 620 through a side opening 104 communicatingwith a return channel or channels and fall onto bell crank 106 whichextends through a slot 108 in column 620 and is biased by spring 110 toa position wherein the ball lifting arm 106 is in its lowest position.Bell crank 106 is supported on a pivot 112 supported on column 620 inany appropriate manner. Arm 106" of bell crank 106 extends upwardly andabuts against a lug 114 on the hammer mechanism so that when the hammermechanism is pivoted downwardly, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 7, arm106" of the bell crank drives the hammer 360 rearwardly to its cockedposition and at the same time arm 106" lifts a ball 18 past detent 100,1 elevating the topmost ball 18 into firing position in channel In thisembodiment handle 520 is integral with a tube 522. Tube 522 is pivotedto table 340 at 524 and lies within channel 526 in table 340. Channel526 opens downwardly to permit tube 522 to pivot in a vertical plane.Hammer 360 is supported on rod 528, the connection being made throughslot 530 in the tube (FIG. 8) and spring 532 biases the hammer forfiring. Lug 534 at the end of rod 528 extends upwardly to engage detent536 on trigger 500 when hammer 360 is cocked. Trigger 500 is biased tothe cocked position by compression spring 502 in handle 520 and pivotsat 504.

A spring pressed ball detent 116 (FIG. 8) releasably holds tube 522 andhandle 520 in operating position (full lines in FIG. 7) but pennits themto pivot downwardly (broken lines in FIG. 7) to cause bell crank 106 tosimultaneously cock hammer 360 and raise a marble 18 to channel 320 bypushing a ball into magazine 640.

FIG. 9 shows a further modification of the turret wherein the trigger50' and associated parts 54, 56', 58', 44, 46', 48', and 60 are similarto those shown and described above in connection with FIGS. 4 and 5,except for the location of spring 60'. Hammer 36' is supported in thismodification on a crescent-shaped lever 400 pivoted at 402 and having acam 404 at the free end engageable with the bottom 86 of the containerfor the game to cock hammer 36' upon downward movement of table 34' uponpost 406. Table 34 is rotatably and reciprocatably retained on post 406by opposed radial flanges 408, 408 on the table and the post,respectively. Spring 78' keeps table 34' in its uppermost positionunless it is pushed down by the operator.

Projectiles or marbles 18 are supplied one at a time to channel 32'. intable 34' by loading lever 410 which has an arm 412 below table 34 to bepushed down by a vertical cocking motion of the table, a pivot 414, anda concave arm 416 to lift a marble 18 from a low point 20 of returnchannel 20 to channel 32' of turret table 34. Table 34 is shaped todirect marble 18 to channel 32' regardless of'its rotational positionrespecting channel 20, for instance by providing a slightly concave orconical surface to table 34.

Handle 52 may be shaped like a hand gun, and may be provided with sightsto aim marbles 18, as may handles 52 or 520, if desired.

Any of the turrets shown may carry a barrier at the same level asbarrier 16, or barrier 16 may extend in front of the turret to keepplaying or object ball 14 out of the turret. If

desired, the rotatable table of the turret may also carry a lowerbarrier against projectiles or marbles 18 although the height of thetable 34 itself tends to serve that purpose.

The invention provides a novel type of game and novel apparatus adaptedto be used in such a game, including a new type of turret for firingmarbles or similar projectiles which is cocked and re-supplied withprojectiles in a single motion in any rotational position, a number ofvariations being shown. The game of my invention may take differingforms. The shape, flatness, and orientation of the parts respecting eachother, and other details, may vary within the scope of the claimswithout departing from the invention.

I claim:

1. In a game, a playing surface, means defining a goal on the playingsurface, an object freely movable on the playing surface, a plurality ofprojectiles adapted to strike the object and thereby move it on theplaying surface, means for projecting a said projectile along theplaying surface, barrier means confining said object to the playingsurface and surrounding said surface except at said goal, said barriermeans being adapted to permit a projectile to pass beyond said playingsurface, means to restrain a projectile passing beyond said playingsurface from leaving the vicinity of the playing surface, saidrestraining means comprising a system of return channels adapted toconvey a projectile which leaves the playing surface to a saidprojecting means, said projecting means being aimable, and reloadingmeans adapted to transfer one projectile from said restraining means tosaid projecting means prior to each use of said projecting means toproject a projectile, said projecting means comprising a rotatableturret including a projectile aiming channel, a hammer adapted toproject a projectile along said channel and onto the playing surface,means to cock the hammer and adapted to store energy to drive the hammerinto contact with the projectile, trigger means adapted to selectivelyretain and release the hammer from cocked position whereby the storedenergy drives the hammer into contact with said projectile, saidprojectile transfer means being actuated by said cocking means, saidtransfer means including a vertical tube in said turret adapted toreceive a plurality of said projectiles, said turret being adapted toreciprocate vertically, said tube provided with projectile retainingmeans adapted to yieldably receive a projectile upon downwardreciprocation of said tube and to retain said projectile in a knownposition upon upward reciprocation of said tube, the uppennostprojectile in said tube being thereby positioned in the path of saidhammer.

2. The device of claim 1 in which said retaining means comprises aresilient ring at the bottom of said tube, said return channel beingadapted to position a projectile below said tube so that verticalreciprocation forces the tube resiliently over the projectile.

3. The device of claim 1 in which the playing surface is flat andgenerally horizontal.

4. The device of claim 3 in which the playing surface is generallyrectangular, with a goal at each end and a pair of means for ejectingprojectiles at each end.

5. The device of claim 4 in which a said means for ejecting projectilesis mounted at each corner of said playing surface.

6. In a game, a playing surface, means defining a goal on the playingsurface, an object ball freely movable on. the playing surface, aplurality of smaller projectile balls adapted to strike the object andthereby move it on the playing surface, means for projecting a saidprojectile along the playing surface, barrier means confining saidobject to the playing surface and surrounding said surface except atsaid goal, said barrier means comprising a rail placed higher than thediameter of the projectile ball and lower than the diameter of theobject ball from the playing surface, means to restrain a projectilepassing beyond said playing surface from leaving the vicinity of theplaying surface, said playing surface being flat and generallyhorizontal, said means for projecting projectiles being mounted at eachcorner of said playing surface, said projecting means comprising arotable turret including a projectile aiming channel, a hammer adaptedto drive a projectile along said channel and onto the playing surface,means to cock the hammer and adapted to store energy to drive the hammerinto contact with the projectile, trigger means adapted to selectivelyretain and release the hammer from cocked position whereby the storedenergy drives the hammer into contact with a said projectile, and meansadapted to transfer one projectile from said restraining means to saidprojecting means prior to each use of said projecting means to project aprojectile, said projectile transfer means being actuated by saidcocking means, said transfer means including a vertical tube in saidturret adapted to receive a plurality of said projectiles, said turretbeing adapted to reciprocate vertically, said tube being provided withprojectile retaining means adapted to yieldably receive a projectileupon downward reciprocation of said tube and to retain said projectilein a known position upon upward reciprocation of said tube, theuppermost projectile in said tube being thereby positioned in the pathof said hammer.

7. The device of claim 6 in which said retaining means comprises aresilient ring at the bottom of said tube, said return channel beingadapted to position a projectile below said tube so that verticalreciprocation forces the tube resiliently over the projectile.

8. A game playing table including a game playing surface, goal means onsaid playing surface, barrier means mounted above said playing surface,said barrier means extending substantially along the entire edge portionof said playing surface exclusive of said goal means, at least oneobject ball on said playing surface to be hit toward said goal means forscoring purposes, at least one projectile ball projected by manuallyactuated projecting means for hitting said object ball, said barriermeans limiting the object ball to said playing surface but permittingthe passage of any of said projectile balls beyond said playing surface,restraining means for restraining to said table any projectile ballspassing beyond said barrier means, said restraining means includinginclined trough means for guiding and returning any of said passedprojectile balls to the vicinity adjacent the lower portion of saidprojecting means, said projecting means including at least one turrethaving a hammer mounted on said table, each said turret including a baseplate in a plane parallel to and normally substantially flush with saidplaying surface, said base plate including a channel for initiallypositioning and guiding said projectile when struck by said hammer, saidturret being vertically reciprocable and having means coop'erabletherewith for cocking said hammer and feeding said returned projectileballs, one by one, to the base plate channel when said turret isvertically reciprocated, and means pivotally supporting said turret forpivoting the base plate in the plane of said playing surface for aimingsaid turret.

1. In a game, a playing surface, means defining a goal on the playingsurface, an object freely movable on the playing surface, a plurality ofprojectiles adapted to strike the object and thereby move it on theplaying surface, means for projecting a said projectile along theplaying surface, barrier means confining said object to the playingsurface and surrounding said surface except at said goal, said barriermeans being adapted to permit a projectile to pass beyond said playingsurface, means to restrain a projectile passing beyond said playingsurface from leaving the vicinity of the playing surface, saidrestraining means comprising a system of return channels adapted toconvey a projectile which leaves the playing surface to a saidprojecting means, said projecting means being aimable, and reloadingmeans adapted to transfer one projectile from said restraining means tosaid projecting means prior to each use of said projecting means toproject a projectile, said projecting means comprising a rotatableturret including a projectile aiming channel, a hammer adapted toproject a projectile along said channel and onto the playing surface,means to cock the hammer and adapted to store energy to drive the hammerinto contact with the projectile, trigger means adapted to selectivelyretain and release the hammer from cocked position whereby the storedenergy drives the hammer into contact with said projectile, saidprojectile transfer means being actuated by said cocking means, saidtransfer means including a vertical tube in Said turret adapted toreceive a plurality of said projectiles, said turret being adapted toreciprocate vertically, said tube being provided with projectileretaining means adapted to yieldably receive a projectile upon downwardreciprocation of said tube and to retain said projectile in a knownposition upon upward reciprocation of said tube, the uppermostprojectile in said tube being thereby positioned in the path of saidhammer.
 2. The device of claim 1 in which said retaining means comprisesa resilient ring at the bottom of said tube, said return channel beingadapted to position a projectile below said tube so that verticalreciprocation forces the tube resiliently over the projectile.
 3. Thedevice of claim 1 in which the playing surface is flat and generallyhorizontal.
 4. The device of claim 3 in which the playing surface isgenerally rectangular, with a goal at each end and a pair of means forejecting projectiles at each end.
 5. The device of claim 4 in which asaid means for ejecting projectiles is mounted at each corner of saidplaying surface.
 6. In a game, a playing surface, means defining a goalon the playing surface, an object ball freely movable on the playingsurface, a plurality of smaller projectile balls adapted to strike theobject and thereby move it on the playing surface, means for projectinga said projectile along the playing surface, barrier means confiningsaid object to the playing surface and surrounding said surface exceptat said goal, said barrier means comprising a rail placed higher thanthe diameter of the projectile ball and lower than the diameter of theobject ball from the playing surface, means to restrain a projectilepassing beyond said playing surface from leaving the vicinity of theplaying surface, said playing surface being flat and generallyhorizontal, said means for projecting projectiles being mounted at eachcorner of said playing surface, said projecting means comprising arotable turret including a projectile aiming channel, a hammer adaptedto drive a projectile along said channel and onto the playing surface,means to cock the hammer and adapted to store energy to drive the hammerinto contact with the projectile, trigger means adapted to selectivelyretain and release the hammer from cocked position whereby the storedenergy drives the hammer into contact with a said projectile, and meansadapted to transfer one projectile from said restraining means to saidprojecting means prior to each use of said projecting means to project aprojectile, said projectile transfer means being actuated by saidcocking means, said transfer means including a vertical tube in saidturret adapted to receive a plurality of said projectiles, said turretbeing adapted to reciprocate vertically, said tube being provided withprojectile retaining means adapted to yieldably receive a projectileupon downward reciprocation of said tube and to retain said projectilein a known position upon upward reciprocation of said tube, theuppermost projectile in said tube being thereby positioned in the pathof said hammer.
 7. The device of claim 6 in which said retaining meanscomprises a resilient ring at the bottom of said tube, said returnchannel being adapted to position a projectile below said tube so thatvertical reciprocation forces the tube resiliently over the projectile.8. A game playing table including a game playing surface, goal means onsaid playing surface, barrier means mounted above said playing surface,said barrier means extending substantially along the entire edge portionof said playing surface exclusive of said goal means, at least oneobject ball on said playing surface to be hit toward said goal means forscoring purposes, at least one projectile ball projected by manuallyactuated projecting means for hitting said object ball, said barriermeans limiting the object ball to said playing surface but permittingthe passage of any of said projectile balls beyond said playing surface,restraining meAns for restraining to said table any projectile ballspassing beyond said barrier means, said restraining means includinginclined trough means for guiding and returning any of said passedprojectile balls to the vicinity adjacent the lower portion of saidprojecting means, said projecting means including at least one turrethaving a hammer mounted on said table, each said turret including a baseplate in a plane parallel to and normally substantially flush with saidplaying surface, said base plate including a channel for initiallypositioning and guiding said projectile when struck by said hammer, saidturret being vertically reciprocable and having means cooperabletherewith for cocking said hammer and feeding said returned projectileballs, one by one, to the base plate channel when said turret isvertically reciprocated, and means pivotally supporting said turret forpivoting the base plate in the plane of said playing surface for aimingsaid turret.